Hybrid cutoff member for an electric circuit

Abstract

A hybrid interrupter member for an electrical circuit, the interrupter member including a static interrupter component and an electromechanical interrupter component. The static component is mounted on a support carrying electrical contacts for the static component, the support being configured, on receiving a command to interrupt, to move in such a manner as to withdraw at least one of the electrical contacts from its respective pin, thereby forming the electromechanical interrupter component.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hybrid interrupter member for an electrical circuit, the interrupter member comprising:
 a static interrupter component; and 
 an electromechanical interrupter component, 
 the static interrupter component being a semiconductor switch component and being mounted on a support carrying two electrical contacts for the static interrupter component, the electromechanical interrupter component being configured, on receiving a command to interrupt, to move said support in such a manner as to withdraw at least one of said electrical contacts from a respective pin, 
 wherein the electromechanical interrupter component includes an electromagnet which creates a magnetic field on receiving the command to interrupt so as to move the support and withdraw the at least one of the electrical contacts of the support from the respective pin. 
 
     
     
       2. A hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is configured to move in turning. 
     
     
       3. A hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is configured to move in translation. 
     
     
       4. A hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 3 , wherein the movement of the support is damped in order to avoid bounce. 
     
     
       5. A hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 1 , further including an electric arc extinction system. 
     
     
       6. A hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric arc extinction system includes an arc-control chamber polarized by the electromagnet. 
     
     
       7. A hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 1 , wherein the static component is configured to interrupt nominal currents or low currents, while the electromechanical interrupter component is configured to interrupt short circuit currents or overload currents and to provide electrical isolation. 
     
     
       8. Controlling a hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 1 , in an interrupting sequence for a short circuit current, during which the static component is actuated after a waiting time after electromechanical opening, thereby enabling a portion of the interrupting energy to be dissipated in an electric arc. 
     
     
       9. Controlling a hybrid interrupter member according to  claim 1 , in an interrupting sequence for a nominal or low current, in which the static component is actuated before electromechanical opening. 
     
     
       10. A DC electrical circuit including an interrupter member according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       11. An AC electrical circuit including an interrupter member according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. An electrical circuit according to  claim 10 , wherein the support is moved between two contact positions corresponding to two distinct circuit configurations. 
     
     
       13. An aircraft electricity network including an electrical circuit according to  claim 1 , the interrupter member being placed in the primary circuit of the network, or in a secondary circuit of the network.